Fly-by rec

[briarwood]

A fascinating discussion of bisexuality (or the lack of it) in slash fiction.

Personally, I've always written Jim and Blair as bi. Sam Winchester, too. I'm not sure about the other SPN boys. I wonder, though, if that comes across. I mean, I don't as a rule have characters declare their sexuality. Maybe y'all don't notice they're not technically gay?

A weird thought for me to start the day on.

Comments

[starwatcher]

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My apologies for being flip. As a straight woman, I honestly don't care if a male or female is straight, gay, or bi, and I approach my reading the same way. I admit I'm a bit curious about how bi "works" -- as you said elsewhere, we're a very black-or-white society, and it's kind of hard to wrap my brain around it since I haven't experienced it -- but I've filed it in my brain as, "None of your damn business. They don't fuss about your lovelife, you don't fuss about theirs."

folks do appreciate decent characterisation. It's the difference between Harlequin and gritty realism.

True. But, I'm flexible, and willing to read some less than decent fic, if it attracts me. Personally, I like my gritty realism "softened" styles -- a modicum of Harlequin, if you will.

I hope everything we write has at least a little significance beyond that.

But different writers have different ideals. For me, I'm happy just to tell a decent story; trying to have 'significance' would feel pretentious. Other writers have other reactions. I feel that there are a lot of "right" ways to approach writing, and not too many "wrong" ones (although there are some).
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[morgan32.livejournal.com]

As a straight woman, I honestly don't care if a male or female is straight, gay, or bi, and I approach my reading the same way.

Fair enough. I didn't mean to come off all angry, actually. I was just typing real fast at work.

I admit I'm a bit curious about how bi "works"

LOL! So would I, and I am! I can only speak for myself, you know? I remember being extremely confused about other girls' reactions to men when I was a teen. Friends would be all "he's gorgeous!" or "what a fantastic body" and I just couldn't see it. But I didn't think I was gay, because I didn't get that reaction to women either.

I'm older now and I understand the physical qualities that are generally considered attractive, so I can appreciate the aesthetic of great pecs or nice breasts or whatever. But that's no more sexual for me than viewing Michaelangelo's David. Physicality doesn't sexually attract me at all until I can attach a personality to the body. And when I fall for the personality, whether it be fictional or no, the sexual attractiveness just kinda falls into place.

[starwatcher]

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Friends would be all "he's gorgeous!" or "what a fantastic body" and I just couldn't see it. But I didn't think I was gay, because I didn't get that reaction to women either.

Same here, sorta. Looking at the overall package just did nothing for me, until I was well into my 20's (and still doesn't do a lot). I remember once when my friends were talking about Chuck Connors in 'The Rifleman'; I was far more enthusiastic about the big black horse he rode. (My friends walked away in disgust.)

I can appreciate the aesthetic of great pecs or nice breasts or whatever. But that's no more sexual for me than viewing Michaelangelo's David. Physicality doesn't sexually attract me at all until I can attach a personality to the body. And when I fall for the personality, whether it be fictional or no, the sexual attractiveness just kinda falls into place.

Wheeee! Finally, someone who looks at visuals the way I do. I like to look at the pretty pics, but I don't seem to have the "squee factor" that other fans bring to it. Those memes about, "Name five actors you'd shag" -- I can't. I'd shag such-and-such character (maybe), but the actor is not the character.

And when I fall for the personality, whether it be fictional or no, the sexual attractiveness just kinda falls into place.

Makes perfect sense to me.
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